Starting a thread on my daughter's upcoming November elk thread to chronicle her first elk hunt.
We found out last week that she has drawn her first AZ rifle elk tag for unit 7W. She drew this tag with only two bonus points. This will be her third big game hunt, but first real "big game" hunt. She took a javelina in February of this year, and she has a turkey tag for the end of April through end of May.
First off is some upgrades to the rifle she will be using on this hunt. It has been a proven game getter, but some upgrades are long overdue to bring the rifle up to standards. It has been my "loaner rifle" for friends and family for 15 years, for those learning to hunt or old timers who' vision has gone downhill and need a scope (my Dad). It has been used by three generations in my family: My father who taught me to hunt had actually never taken any big game until 10 years ago when he used this rifle on a mule deer hunt and took his first buck ever. I have used it on hunts, but have actually never taken any large game with it. My cousin has used it to take a deer and an elk, a good friend has done the same. My older daughter took her first elk at age 11 (she is now 22), a great cow at 200 yds. that went a total of two steps.
The rifle:
Interarms Mark X (Mauser 98) LA in .270 Win
24" 1-10" twist stock barrel with KDF muzzle brake
Bell & Carlson Carbelite stock
Leupold 1 pc. base
Leupold rings
Cabela's Alaskan Guide 4.5-14x50 scope
The original loads:
Barnes 150gr. XFB @ 2950fps (has taken a few elk)
Sierra 130gr. Game King @ 3120fps (has taken a few deer)
Berger 140gr. VLD @ 3090fps (latest load worked up as an all around and shot about .800 MOA)
The new load I will be working up:
Nosler 150gr. Accubond LR (.625 BC)
COAL of 2.8855 Jammed .005 leaves me a lot of case space
Going to try RL22 and H4831SC
Winchester brass
CCI BR-2 primers
Hoping for 2950fps±
Rifle upgrades:
New Bell & Carlson Medalist stock w. full aluminum bedding block in tan web (ordered from Red Hawk Rifles on Wednesday)
Used SWFA SS HD 5-20x50 scope in TPS rings (picked up from Mike @ Southwest Ammunition yesterday, thanks Mike!)
New Brownell's steel Picatinny rail base (ordered today)
Back-up/long range rifle will be my Rem700 in .300RUM w. brake. She has shot this a couple times and can handle it for a few shots at a time.
My daughter has been shooting a lot in the last year. She can go 10 for 10 on a 12" steel at 600 yds. with my AR15. She has first round hits on the 12" steel with my .25-06 Ackley at 865 yds. We will be doing a LOT of shooting in the upcoming months to get her ready, along with a lot of hiking to get in better shape. Scouting will start in a couple months once the bulls start growing horns again.
I have a good buddy with a cabin about 2 miles outside of our hunting area, and he has graciously offered its use to me, along with trailer parking and hookups for my 31' 5th wheel. So weekend scouting trips will be a lot easier and more comfortable.
On to some photos for the first of many posts. Hope you all enjoy the 8 month journey as much as we are going to. Hopes are high, and any mature 6x6 bull is the hope, but any decent bull will be on the hit list. A good time with family and friends, and meat in the freezer, will be the top goal. But if a giant is spotted throughout the year and makes it through the archery season...who knows. She might hold out for a few days.
The .270 that has served many people well
Muzzle brake makes the .270 kick like a .243
The action has been moving a bit over the years in the cheap stock
Cheap scope and base removed (going to my brother for a "throw in the truck gun")
Mounted the SWFA on my AR to temporarily try out tomorrow
150gr. Accubond LR vs. 140gr. Berger VLD
We found out last week that she has drawn her first AZ rifle elk tag for unit 7W. She drew this tag with only two bonus points. This will be her third big game hunt, but first real "big game" hunt. She took a javelina in February of this year, and she has a turkey tag for the end of April through end of May.
First off is some upgrades to the rifle she will be using on this hunt. It has been a proven game getter, but some upgrades are long overdue to bring the rifle up to standards. It has been my "loaner rifle" for friends and family for 15 years, for those learning to hunt or old timers who' vision has gone downhill and need a scope (my Dad). It has been used by three generations in my family: My father who taught me to hunt had actually never taken any big game until 10 years ago when he used this rifle on a mule deer hunt and took his first buck ever. I have used it on hunts, but have actually never taken any large game with it. My cousin has used it to take a deer and an elk, a good friend has done the same. My older daughter took her first elk at age 11 (she is now 22), a great cow at 200 yds. that went a total of two steps.
The rifle:
Interarms Mark X (Mauser 98) LA in .270 Win
24" 1-10" twist stock barrel with KDF muzzle brake
Bell & Carlson Carbelite stock
Leupold 1 pc. base
Leupold rings
Cabela's Alaskan Guide 4.5-14x50 scope
The original loads:
Barnes 150gr. XFB @ 2950fps (has taken a few elk)
Sierra 130gr. Game King @ 3120fps (has taken a few deer)
Berger 140gr. VLD @ 3090fps (latest load worked up as an all around and shot about .800 MOA)
The new load I will be working up:
Nosler 150gr. Accubond LR (.625 BC)
COAL of 2.8855 Jammed .005 leaves me a lot of case space
Going to try RL22 and H4831SC
Winchester brass
CCI BR-2 primers
Hoping for 2950fps±
Rifle upgrades:
New Bell & Carlson Medalist stock w. full aluminum bedding block in tan web (ordered from Red Hawk Rifles on Wednesday)
Used SWFA SS HD 5-20x50 scope in TPS rings (picked up from Mike @ Southwest Ammunition yesterday, thanks Mike!)
New Brownell's steel Picatinny rail base (ordered today)
Back-up/long range rifle will be my Rem700 in .300RUM w. brake. She has shot this a couple times and can handle it for a few shots at a time.
My daughter has been shooting a lot in the last year. She can go 10 for 10 on a 12" steel at 600 yds. with my AR15. She has first round hits on the 12" steel with my .25-06 Ackley at 865 yds. We will be doing a LOT of shooting in the upcoming months to get her ready, along with a lot of hiking to get in better shape. Scouting will start in a couple months once the bulls start growing horns again.
I have a good buddy with a cabin about 2 miles outside of our hunting area, and he has graciously offered its use to me, along with trailer parking and hookups for my 31' 5th wheel. So weekend scouting trips will be a lot easier and more comfortable.
On to some photos for the first of many posts. Hope you all enjoy the 8 month journey as much as we are going to. Hopes are high, and any mature 6x6 bull is the hope, but any decent bull will be on the hit list. A good time with family and friends, and meat in the freezer, will be the top goal. But if a giant is spotted throughout the year and makes it through the archery season...who knows. She might hold out for a few days.
The .270 that has served many people well
Muzzle brake makes the .270 kick like a .243
The action has been moving a bit over the years in the cheap stock
Cheap scope and base removed (going to my brother for a "throw in the truck gun")
Mounted the SWFA on my AR to temporarily try out tomorrow
150gr. Accubond LR vs. 140gr. Berger VLD